Celebration of the First World Patient Safety Day in Ghana

Physician attending to a patient in a health facility

The first World Patient Safety day was observed in Ghana on the 17th September 2019 with the opening of National Conference on Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality which took place from the 17-19 September 2019. The Ghana Health Service in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, agencies and Health Partners, such as WaterAid and Systems for health and WHO organized this conference to contribute to the Global effort in achieving Quality Universal Health Coverage by 2030.

Ethiopia commemorates 1st World Patient Safety Day

group photo
Ethiopia marks the first Annual World Patient Safety Day by adding its voice to the international call, “Patient Safety: a global health priority!”  H.E Dr. Lia Tadesse, State Minister of Health, Dr. Yakob Seman, Medical Services Director General of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Dr. Paul Mainuka, Health Systems Strengthening Team Leader of WHO Ethiopia Country Office, and about 90 attendees representing the MOH and its various agencies; professional, patient and student associations; hospitals; academic and research institutions; local and international development partners; and the media took part in the event which was conducted on 17 September 2019 in Addis Ababa.

Sense of relief as families embrace malaria vaccine roll out in Kenya

Cabinet Secretary Hon Sicily Kariuki, right, WR Dr Rudi Eggers join other dignitaries to celebrate malaria vaccine roll-ou
September 13, will forever be a memorable day for Noreen Koech, 22 - Recently, she watched with tears running down her face as her 6-month old son Elian Koech became a momentous sensation as he led the pack in receiving Kenya’s first dose of Malaria vaccine during the roll out.

An innovative approach to Disease Surveillance in Nigeria

Supportive supervision to AVADAR informant by an LGA DSNO._0.jpg

Abuja, 24 September, 2019 - An innovative technology using a mobile short message service (SMS)-based software is being used to improve the quality and sensitivity of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance in Nigeria. Known as AVADAR (Audio-Visual Acute Flaccid Paralysis Detection and Reporting), this innovative technology is greatly assisting health workers and key community informants to timely detect and report AFP cases.

Patient safety, a priority for the Kingdom of Eswatini

Dr Khosi Mthethwa from WHO following proceedings with Dr Vusi Magagula, the Director of Health Services

The Kingdom of Eswatini joined the rest of the world in commemorating the first ever World Patient Safety Day on 17 September 2019. The theme for this year’s celebration was "Patient Safety: a global health priority.", “Lets speak up for patient safety!”. The theme calls for promotion of open communication for learning from errors and to emphasise the importance of patient safety, as well as increasing the voice of the patient.

WHO welcomes landmark UN declaration on universal health coverage

WHO welcomes landmark UN declaration on universal health coverage
World leaders adopt a high-level United Nations Political Declaration on universal health coverage, the most comprehensive set of health commitments ever adopted at this level. UN Member States commit to advance UHC by investing in four major areas around primary health care.

ZAMBIA HOSTS THE 24th MEETING OF THE AFRICAN REGIONAL CERTIFICATION COMMISSION FOR POLIOMYELITIS ERADICATION (ARCC)

Participants at the meeting

The 24th meeting of the African Regional Certification Commission for Poliomyelitis Eradication (ARCC) which was held in Lusaka from 16-20 September 2019 has come to a close. During the closing ceremony, the ARCC Chairperson Professor Rose Leke announced that the Commission had accepted the complete documentation of Equatorial Guinea and South Africa on their polio free status and congratulated the Chairpersons of the National Certification Committees and all who had contributed to this achievement at country level.

WHO Eritrea and China Collaboration Meeting

Dr Martins Ovberedjo, WHO Representative to Eritrea and Chinese Ambassador to the State of Eritrea, Mr Yang Zigang

ASMARA, September 16, 2019 – Dr Martins Ovberedjo, WHO Representative to Eritrea and Chinese Ambassador to the State of Eritrea, Mr Yang Zigang held a collaboration meeting on health development support to the state of Eritrea.